Leave the field better than you found it.

When we say, “leave the field better than you found it,” we mean more than putting the cones back or picking up a water bottle. As your coach, I want you to picture every place you go—practice, school, home—as a field you can improve with your actions and your words. Small things you do when nobody’s watching add up: helping a teammate up, cleaning a tip-off mess, saying sorry when you hurt someone, or cheering for the kid who missed the goal. Those are the kinds of choices that make the field better.

Hard times will come—losing a game, getting picked last, or feeling clumsy in front of others. That’s when the mantra matters most. You can make the field better by how you respond, not just by what happens to you. Try simple habits: take a breath before you speak, name the feeling (I’m frustrated, I’m sad), and choose one action that moves things forward—apologize, try again, or step back to listen. Those steps are tiny but powerful. They help you learn and help others feel safe, too.

Here are short phrases you can keep in your pocket and use when things feel hard. Say them quietly, shout them in your head, or write them on your hand—whatever helps you remember:

• “One step at a time.”
• “I can try again.”
• “It’s okay to ask for help.”
• “I made a mistake, I’ll fix it.”
• “I’m here for you.”
• “Breathe in, breathe out.”
• “Better today than yesterday.”
• “We’re a team.”

Those phrases are like tools. “One step at a time” slows you down when everything feels fast. “I can try again” reminds you that practice matters more than perfection. “I’m here for you” turns a bad moment into a chance to lift someone else—and that lifts you too.

Leaving the field better also means caring for the space and the people. Pick up trash, share equipment, help a new player learn a drill, or sit with someone who’s alone. When you notice a teammate struggling, a quiet, “Want to talk?” or “Nice try—want to practice that together?” can change their whole day. When you admit you were wrong and say sorry, you teach everyone how to be brave and honest. That makes your team stronger.

Try choosing one phrase and one action for the week. Maybe your phrase is “Breathe in, breathe out” and your action is picking up at least one piece of litter after practice. Keep doing both, and you’ll notice something true: fields don’t just stay the way they were. They grow kinder, safer, and more fun because of what you bring. That’s the kind of coach I want to be with you—cheering when you improve the field, not just when you score.